John Paul II Encourages All-Night Eucharistic Vigils

October 04, 2002
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VATICAN CITY, OCT. 4, 2002 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II encouraged all-night eucharistic vigils in a message sent to mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Spanish All-Night Adoration.

The papal message was read last weekend during a eucharistic vigil presided over by Cardinal Antonio María Rouco, archbishop of Madrid. About 3,000 faithful attended the event in the Spanish capital.

The ceremony began with a procession of flags of over 200 All-Night Adoration sections that were in Madrid for the occasion.

French Jewish convert Hermann Cohen founded All-Night Adoration in 1848. All-Night Adoration is now held in more than 40 countries. In all of them, groups of faithful adore Christ in the Eucharist during the night.

Participants in eucharistic adoration meet once a month to attend a vigil, which begins with a Mass, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the praying of the rosary. It continues with the recitation of the liturgy of the hours, and the faithful taking turns to pray and adore in silence.

The vigil ends with the prayer of lauds and the Blessed Sacrament returned to the altar of reserve.